A quiet hike away from the crowds, even on a Saturday. It was foggy, so there were no views at the top. Fall colors are just beginning.
The trail is a steady climb. It’s in excellent condition. There is one spot, near an overlook about half way up, where there were several use trails, and it’s easy to miss the switchback. I missed it on the way up, and then came across another hiker on my way down, who also missed the turn.
The parking is about .2 of a mile before the trailhead, on the right if you’re coming from the North.

Is it worth it to hike to a fire lookout tower with 360 degree views when it is in the clouds?  YES when the huckleberries are ripe. Arrived at empty parking area and began the climb up at 11:30am.  Trail in great shape with nice tread for first couple of miles. Rockier stretches and eroded spots on top half. Thousands of feet of elevation gain but reasonable hiking grades up through healthy mid elevation forest to meadows with pines, spruces, firs and rocky overlooks. I thought I might be skunked on my annual huckleberry quest when the first bushes were already dried out and losing their leaves. But eventually the berries started to appear. Went up to the tower, then turned back and slowly picked a liter of berries from the trail in the upper meadows. No company from bears or humans, and no other vehicles parked when I got back to the road at 6pm.

Quick solo day trip. At 10 am, only 2 cars in parking lot. In Tacoma area it was cloudy, but eastside of MRNP was mostly sunny. Left TH at 10:!5, arrived at lookout 12:35. Beautiful views of Rainier, St Helens, Adam, and Hood. Gorgeous clouds of various kinds in bright blue sky. Campsites up there are beautiful, nice privy, the only problem is there is no water. Left peak at 1:00 pm, back at car at 2:40 pm, jogged what sections I could. I saw no bears. Lots and lots of huckleberries and wild blueberries. I saw 7 people all day, it was the perfect hike to clear the mind and soak in the views.

I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of people on this trail for a holiday!  You don't need any parking pass, great views, berries, not too far of a drive from Seattle, but I only saw 8 people!  The trail is in such good condition, not rocky at all, so you can really cruise along.  I found it way easier than Gothic Basin/ Foggy Lake, which is about equivalent in distance and elevation, and easier than Melakwa Lake, which is shorter and less elevation, but rockier, so you actually have to watch where you walk.  Anyway, if you're newer to hiking and want to do something harder in terms of elevation, but don't want to hurt too badly, this hike is pretty smooth sailing.  I made it up in 2hrs, down in 1.5hrs.

I was unaware of the previous trip report mentioning the bear and two cubs (possibly posted after I left the house), but I did come across them at about the same spot.  I had stopped to eat a few berries and heard a large crashing through bushes going away from me, so in retrospect, I'm guessing that was the mom and one cub.  I made some noise and moved slowly along the trail looking back.  I saw a cub not too far off sniffing the air, so snapped a quick pic, and then yelled and rustled some tree branches with my hiking poles.  The little guy took off.  I didn't see them the rest of my hike, and made sure to let the people I saw on the way down to keep an eye out for them.  FYI- bear bells do not work!!!  https://www.nps.gov/articles/hiking-in-bear-country.htm

Views of Rainier were amazing.  I could make out Adams, but was unable to see MSH.  Still gorgeous up there.  And SOOOO many berries to snack on!  There were several yellowish birds at the summit, which may be some type of warbler, but my bird ID skills aren't what they used to be, not that my warbler ID was every any good to begin with!